PRIORITY
DTG/RELEASE TIME: 270400Z FEB 00
TO: ALUSI
UNCLAS
SUBJ: BURUNDANGA/"ZOMBIE DUST" KIDNAP/CRIME DRUG
(1) (U)BURUNDANGA/"ZOMBIE DUST" KIDNAP/CRIME DRUG
(1) (U)BURUNDANGA/"ZOMBIE DUST" KIDNAP/CRIME DRUG
(1) (U)USE OF BURUNDANGA, KNOWN AS "ZOMBIE DUST", CONTINUES TO INCREASE
THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. BURUNDANGA IS A CHEMICAL COCKTAIL OF
SCOPOLAMINE (C17H21NO4), TRANQUILIZERS AND OTHER DRUGS PRIMARILY USED TO
INCAPACITATE UNWARY VICTIMS. BURUNDANGA IS INDIGENOUS TO COLOMBIA, BUT ITS USE IS
WIDESPREAD ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND MAY BE IN USE IN OTHER FOREIGN
LOCATIONS. AS OF 13 FEB 00, COLOMBIA MEDICAL OFFICIALS REPORT AN AVERAGE OF 1000
CASES OF EXPOSURE TO "ZOMBIE DUST" PER MONTH. ACTUAL INCIDENTS MAY BE HIGHER
THAN REPORTS BASED ON HOSPITAL INTAKE RECORDS.
ACTIVE CHEMICAL INGREDIENT IN "ZOMBIE DUST" IS A DERIVATIVE OF SCOPOLAMINE, FOUND IN
A PLANT OF THE NIGHTSHADE SPECIES AND KNOWN LOCALLY AS "BORRACHERA" (DRUNKEN
BINGE). THE PLANT NORMALLY GROWS IN THE HIGH ANDES, BUT CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN LOCAL
PARKS IN BOGOTA.
VICTIMS OF "ZOMBIE DUST" ARE RENDERED HELPLESS IN A TRANCE-LIKE STATE, AWAKE AND
COMMUNICATIVE, BUT POWERLESS TO RESIST ORDERS. THE DRUG MAY CAUSE EXTREME
DISORIENTATION, UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND SERIOUS MEDICAL PROBLEMS. VICTIMS OFTEN DO
NOT RECALL EVENTS.
"ZOMBIE DUST" IS SURREPTITIOUSLY ADMINISTERED IN DRINKS IN BARS, CIGARETTES AND GUM
IN TAXIS, IN FOOD AND IN POWDER FORM DUSTED ONTO VICTIMS' SKIN. HOUSEWIVES AND
BUSINESSMEN HAVE REPORTED FALLING VICTIM TO "ZOMBIE DUST" APPLIED BY CRIMINALS
POSING AS DOOR-TO-DOOR SALESMEN INVITING UNWARY SUBJECTS TO SAMPLE PERFUMES
AND OTHER PRODUCTS WHICH SECRETLY CONTAIN THE DRUG MIXED IN GASEOUS FORM
VICTIMS HAVE ALSO REPORTED ATTACKERS APPROACHING THEM IN RESTROOMS AND
BLOWING THE POWDER ONTO THEIR FACES. WOMEN IN BARS AND PROSTITUTES HAVE
APPLIED THE DRUG TO THE DRINKS OF VICTIMS AND INTRODUCED IT THROUGH OTHER
METHODS.
PRECAUTIONS:
1. DO NOT LEAVE DRINKS UNATTENDED AND DRINK ONLY FROM BOTTLED BEVERAGES.
(POWDER CAN BE APPLIED TO GLASSES PRIOR TO USE)
2. DO NOT ACCEPT SOFT DRINKS, GUM, CANDY, CIGARETTES OR OTHER PRODUCTS FROM
STRANGERS.
3. BE WARY OF NAPKINS OR LINEN TOWELS IN BATHROOMS THAT CAN BE TREATED WITH THE
POWDER.
4. NEVER GO OUT ALONE. TRAVEL WITH TRUSTED COMPANIONS.
PERSONNEL CONDUCTING PROTECTIVE OPERATIONS SHOULD CONSIDER THE SERIOUS THREAT
POSED BY "ZOMBIE DUST" TO BOTH SECURITY TEAM PERSONNEL AND PRINCIPAL PROTECTEES.
TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS WHEN OPERATING IN AFFECTED AREAS. EXERCISE
EXTREME CARE WHEN OFF DUTY.
BT
(This document originally posted at SECNET on 27 FEB 2000)
This document is Originator Controlled. It may not be disseminated or classification downgraded without originator prior approval.